Prefabricated panel with pliable film thereon



July 25, 1967 A. ELMr-:NDORF 3,33%

PREFABRICATED PANEL WITH PLIABLE FILM THEREON Filed Feb. l, 1965 ARMINELNIENDORF ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,332,193 PREFABRICATEDPANEL WITH PLIABLE FILM THEREON Armin Elmendorf, 860 Charleston Road,Palo Alto, Calif. 94303 Filed Feb. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 429,468 4 Claims.(Cl. 52-545) The panel of this invention lies in the field offactoryfinished siding produ-cts that require only nailing on the job. n

Various kinds of base materials Iare available for walls and roofs inwhich the panel is finished at the factory. Most products of that typeare made of plywood or of ligno-cellulosic fibers either in the form ofparticle board, hardboard or insulation board, or as a single lamina inthe form of lumber.

All ligno-cellulosic products are hygroscopic and are subjected toslight dimensional changes even if well finished. Such changes arecaused by prolonged exposure to changes in the ambient atmospherichumidity. The changes in width of lumber are greater than those of allother ligno-cellulosic boards but the changes in length are below thoseof all other products. The dimensional changes in both length and widthof plywood are far less than width changes in lumber but greater thanthe shrinkage or expansion of lumber lengthwise. The dimension-alstability of plywood exceeds that of all fibrous composite boards of thehardboard, particle board, or insulation board type. Plywood shrinks orexpands less than all such products; hence it is the preferred productfor the base panel of the present invention. But plywood `also has itsliabilities for outdoor use. It is generally made of rotarycut veneerand such veneers, especially if made of softwoods such as Douglas fir orpine, tend to check in the weather and to crack the finish.

If plywood is to be finished in the factory it is generally firstsurfaced with a Weather-resistant membrane such as thick paperimpregnated with an appropriate thermosetting resin. Such membranesprevent checking but upset the equilibrium of the panel and introducewarping. They are, however, extensively used for surfacing plywood,particle board and low density soft boards of the insulation board type,as a partial solution to the problem. The finish applied to the surfaceof the facing membrane produces different results from those obtainedwhen the same finish is applied to the edges of the panel when exposedto the weather on Iaccount of differences in panel absorption. To applythe resin-impregnated membrane to the edges introduces difficultmanufacturing problems.

One of the purposes of the present invention is to eliminate the problemof warping.

Another problem that confronts all manufacturers of ligno-cellulosicsiding panels finished in the :factory is the problem of fastening. Ifnails are driven through the face of the panel the finish is therebypunctured and the protection offered by the finish is affected. Variouskinds of clips that hold the lower edge of the panel have been developedand so have metal strips formed to fit into grooves in the panel.` Onemethod that has found extensive use is to attach -alongitudinal strip tothe back of the panel and to shape this strip and the upper edge of thepanel below it so that they lock together. A conventional method is tobevel the upper edge and the edge of the strip on the back of the panelso that when in position, and the upper edge has been nailed, the loweredge of the next panel cannot pull away. No nails need then be driventhrough the factory-applied finish, in those areas that are exposed tothe weather. The present invention provides for concealed nailing withthe nail head buried in the siding. The nails are driven through theupper edge of the panel which then holds the lower edge of the nextpanel through the medium of an anchoring strip.

Siding panels whose area of coverage on the wall is fixed by ananchoring strip bonded to the back have a disadvantage non-existent inlumber siding. The Width of the space covered by such construction isthe same lfor all panels; hence, the carpenter cannot adjust the widthso that there will be no narrow siding strips or a gap for the lastcourse. In the case of lumber siding the carpenter can divide the wallheight into any number of panel widths desired, as the exposure can be-changed to suit. The present invention has as one of its purposes thepossibility of adjusting the panel exposure as in lumber siding andwithout showing the nail as in lumber. By adjusting the exposure therewill be no area at the top of the wall uncovered.

Architects and builders have a strong preference for a thick panel edgebecause it contributes to the impression of strength and solidity. Oneof the disadvantages of the conventional 3/s-inch plywood siding is thatthe exposed edge is only `oys-inch thick. One of the purposes of thepresent invention is to increase the thickness of the edge of thesiding, to make it 5Ai-inch for 3i-inch plywood, and 73-inch for1/z-inch panels such as insulation board or particle board.

One Iway to solve the problem of panel warping associated with panels:faced with resin impregnated paper and then finished is to replace thecombination of impregnated paper plus finish with a thin pliablepigmented synthetic resin film that is highly weather resistant. Severalsuch films are available and in use. Polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylffuoride films are useful for this purpose. The present invention iscarried out by employing such films instead of liquid finishes. In athickness of about 2 to 10 mils they can Ibe bent to a right angle.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingwherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts ineach of the several views.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a vertical sectional view of a siding or roof panel inaccordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the panel shown in FIGURE lpartially positioned in place on a wall;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the panel shown in FIGURE 1finally positioned in place on a wall;

FIGURE 4 illustrates an alternative construction of the panel inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 illustrates still another alternative construction of the panelin accordance with this invention.

For a clear understanding of the present invention, reference may bemade to the following drawings.

FIGURE 1 shows a section through a siding or roof panel constructed inaccordance with the requirements of the present invention in which 1 isthe base panel, in this case made of plywood, 2 is a clamping strip, 3is a pli-able, pigmented, and weather-resistant film bonded to the basepanel and to the clamping strip, spanning a gap 4 which separates anedge of the base panel from an edge of the clamping strip, the width ofthis space being equalv to the combined width of these edges, 8 is ashoulder projection in the clamping strip that fits into a groove 9 ofthe base panel, and 10 is a shoulder in the base panel that fits intothe recess I1 of the clamping strip.

FIGURE 2 shows la similar plywood panel, which may, however, also be anyother ligno-cellulosic panel such as insulation board, particle board,or hardboard, in place after the nails 6 have been driven through theclamping strip 2 and the upper portion of the next lower panel 1 into `anailing base 12.

FIGURE 3 shows the panel 1 of FIGURE 2 raised up and rotated on its filmhinge into its final position. The upper edge of the base panel 1, ofwhatever type, may be chamfered on the back so that it will be parallelto the nailing base 12 as shown `at 13 in FIGURE 4. The nailing base maybe plywood or lumber sheathing, or furring strips nailed to the framingof the building or any other material which will receive and hold nails.

FIGURE 4 shows a simple construction in which the clamping strip 2' isplywood, the base panel 1 is a fiber board, and the groove 9 for theclamping strip 2 extends to the panel edge.

FIGURE shows a clamping strip 2 provided with an interior shoulder 14for the builder who prefers the construction in which the position ofthe panel 1" relative to the next lower panel is fixed.

Each of the constructions illustrated may be further strengthened byapplying an adhesive to the clamping strip immediately before rotatingthe base panel on its film hinge. The tension in the film at the loweredge of the base panel in its final position holds the panel in contactwith the clamping strip while the adhesive sets.

Such bonding is, however, optional.

The weatherproof film finish may be reinforced if desired with aflexible fabric, or aluminum foil may be used as a backing if both thefinish and the foil are thin.

Any type of weather-resistant cold setting adhesive may be used forbonding the base panel to the clamping strip such as urea or resorcinoladhesive. The type of adhesive does not constitute part of theinvention.

Staples or screws may be yused in place of nails. The fastening meansare concealed by the lower portion of the base panel. The type offastening does not constitute part of the invention.

When the siding panel, the clamping strip, and the nailing base are allmade of plywood there is practically no relative motion between them dueto dimensional changes resulting from changes in atmospheric humidity,and there is no problem of shrinkage in length. If the components aremade of different materials, the ends of the siding may be lapped andcaulked. The type of panel end does not constitute part of theinvention.

It will now be seen that when the base panel is turned up on its filmhinge the thickness at the lower edge of the resultant siding becomesthat of the combined edges of the panel and the clamping strip, that thelower edge is protected with the same finish as the face, and that thesame nail holds both the lower edge of one panel and the upper edge ofthe next lower panel without showing the nail head, the nail head beingburied within the siding, and, furthermore, that due to the anchorage ofthe shoulder of the clamping strip in the recess of the panel there canbe no slipping of the panel downward during installation therebyrevealing the fact that the siding is not one-piece of full edgethickness but is made of two independent members.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it is understood that certain modifications may bepracticed within the spirit of the invention as limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A horizontal lap siding for buildings consisting in part of a plywoodpanel, a plywood clamping strip having a shoulder projection at one endand a recess at the other end thereof, the thickness of said clampingstrip at the shoulder being the same as the thickness of the panel, anda pigmented Weatherproof pliable film that can be bent to a right angleat ambient outdoor temperatures bonded to the panel and to the clampingstrip, with a space between the edge of the panel and the edge of theclamping strip equal to the combined width of the edges, the panel beingprovided with a shoulder adjacent the edge and a groove having a widthequal to the width of the shoulder projection to receive said shoulderprojection and prevent transverse relative movement between said paneland said clamping strip when said shoulder projection is positionedwithin said groove.

2. A construction for the sides and roofs of buildings comprising aplurality of courses, each of said courses including a panel, a clampingstrip, a weatherproof pliable film secured to the panel and the clampingstrip, the film being bent to a right angle at an edge of the clampingstrip and at an edge of the panel, and being clamped between theclamping strip and the upper portion of the next course, said panel andsaid clamping strip defining a longitudinally extending shoulderprojection and a mating longitudinally extending groove to preventtransverse relative movement between said panel and said strip when saidshoulder projection is positioned within said groove, a nailing base,and fastening means securing the clamping strip to the base, thefastening means being concealed by the lower portion of the panel.

3. A construction for the sides and roofs of buildings comprising aplurality `of courses, each of said courses including a ligno-cellulosicpanel, a ligno-cellulosic clamping strip, and a weatherproof pliablefilm bonded to the panel and to the clamping strip, the film being bentto a right angle at an edge of the clamping strip and at an edge of thepanel and being clamped between the clamping strip and the face of theupper portion of the next course, said panel and said clamping stripdefining a longitudinally extending shoulder projection and a matinglongitudinally extending groove to prevent transverse relative movementbetween said panel and said strip when said shoulder projection ispositioned within said groove, a nailing base, mechanical fasteningmeans driven through the clamping strip and the Aupper edge of anotherpanel into the nailing base, the fastening means being concealed by thelower portion of said ligno-cellulosic panel.

4. A building member for exposure to the weather comprising a panelmember, a clamping strip member, and a Weatherproof pliable film thatcan be bent to a right angle at ambient outdoor temperatures secured tothe panel and to the clamping strip members, with a space between theedge of the panel member and the edge of the clamping strip member equalto the combined width of these edges, said panel and said clamping stripmembers having a longitudinally extending shoulder projection on one ofsaid members and a mating longitudinally extending groove on the otherof said members to prevent transverse relative movement between saidpanel and said strip members when said shoulder projection is positionedwithin said groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,994,643 3/1935 Harshberger52-528 2,032,083 2/ 1936 Dudleston 52-545 2,192,810 3/1940 Angier 52-5452,402,731 6/1946 Clements 52--545 3,228,164 l/l966 Ettore 52-309 X FRANKL. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner.

2. A CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SIDES AND ROOFS OF BUILDINGS COMPRISING APLURALITY OF COURSES, EACH OF SAID COURSES INCLUDING A PANEL, A CLAMPINGSTRIP, A WEATHERPROOF PLIABLE FILM SECURED TO THE PANEL AND THE CLAMPINGSTRIP, THE FILM BEING BENT TO A RIGHT ANGLE AT AN EDGE OF THE CLAMPINGSTRIP AND AT AN EDGE OF THE PANEL, AND BEING CLAMPED BETWEEN THECLAMPING STRIP AND THE UPPER PORTION OF THE NEXT COURSE, SAID PANEL ANDSAID CLAMPING STRIP DEFINING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SHOULDERPROJECTION AND A MATING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVE TO PREVENTTRANSVERSE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID PANEL AND SAID STRIP WHEN SAIDSHOULDER PROJECTION IS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID GROOVE, A NAILING BASE,AND FASTENING MEANS SECURING THE CLAMPING STRIP TO THE BASE, THEFASTENING MEANS BEING CONCEALED BY THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PANEL.